Portable device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a flexible fitting solution for a portable device for inputting control signals to a peripheral unit, which includes a holding member designed to be attached to a hand of a user of the device so as to retain the device in a predetermined manner on the hand. The holding member comprises at least one elongated portion and at least one curved portion connected thereto. A side of the holding member that faces the user&#39;s hand when the device is attached to the hand includes a padding module. The padding module, in turn, includes at least one pad cushion adapted to fit the device to the user&#39;s hand. The padding module is removably fastened to the holding member by means of a set of fastening members, which secure the padding module in a fastened position. By selecting an appropriate padding module, each user of the device may obtain a good fit of the device onto his/her hand.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is entitled to the benefit of and incorporates byreference essential subject matter disclosed in InternationalApplication No. PCT/SE2003/001450 filed on Sep. 16, 2003 and SwedishPatent Application No. 0203048.4 filed on Oct. 15, 2002.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to fitting of wearable devices,which communicate with units that are physically separated from thedevice. More particularly the invention relates to a portable device forsending control signals to a peripheral unit, the device beingattachable to a user's hand. The present invention also resides in apadding module that can be attached to the portable device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The trend in both telecommunication and data processing is towardsmobility, decreased device sizes and application specific interfaces.Moreover, our manners of interacting with computers and variouscommunication tools is becoming less orthodox. For example, it cannot bepresupposed that the user predominantly sits at a desk when operatinghis/her computer. Together, these circumstances place an increaseddemand for user-friendly and flexible data input arrangements.

One way of accomplishing such an arrangement is to provide a portabledevice for inputting control signals to a peripheral unit, where theportable device is attachable to a user's hand and communicates with theperipheral unit (by wire or wirelessly). The user is thereby free tomove in relation the peripheral unit, such as a computer, while at thesame time, he/she maintains the ability to interact with this unit.Moreover, such an arrangement increases the user's chances of finding acomfortable and ergonomically appropriate working posture. A portabledevice of this kind preferably includes a holding member, which isdesigned to be attached to a hand of a user of the device so as toretain the device in a predetermined manner on the hand. The holdingmember may thereby include a U-shaped portion that has two elongatedportions and a curved portion connecting these portions.

However, people's hands vary significantly with respect to size andshape. This, in turn, results in that a particular portable device,having a certain shape and dimensions, that is adapted to be attached toa user's hand may be positioned (or fitted) onto different parts of thehand depending on the characteristics of the hand in question.Additionally, when the device is attached to a user's hand, variousinput members (such as buttons and pointing controls) on the device maybe more or less easy to reach, either by the hand onto which the deviceis attached or the user's opposite hand, depending on thecharacteristics of the hand. The clamping force by which the device isaffixed to the user's hand may also vary considerably depending on thethickness of the hand and the stiffness of any resilient members betweenthe hand and the rigid body of the portable device. Finally, even thoughtwo users may have very similar hands with respect to shape and sizetheir preferences as to what represents a comfortable fit of theportable device onto their hands may show large variations.

One way of handling the above discrepancies would, of course, be to havethe portable device tailor-made for each user. However, this is barelyrealistic due to the design and manufacture costs associated therewith.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a solutionwhich is attractive both from an ergonomic and a commercialpoint-of-view, and thus to offer a flexible fitting of a generalportable device onto a specific user's hand.

According to one aspect of the invention the object is achieved by aportable device for inputting control signals to a peripheral unit,which includes a holding member designed to be attached to a hand of auser of the device so as to retain the device in a predetermined manneron the hand. The holding member includes at least one curved portion andat least one elongated portion connected to the at least one curvedportion, such that the portions are adapted to grip a part of the user'shand. A side of the holding member that faces the user's hand when thedevice is attached to the hand contains a padding module. This moduleincludes at least one pad cushion, which is adapted to fit the device tothe user's hand. Moreover, the padding module is removably fastened tothe holding member by means of a set of fastening members that securethe padding module in a fastened position.

This is advantageous because thereby the user may select a particularpadding module having such characteristics that when it is fastened ontothe portable device it results in a good fitting of the device onto theuser's hand. Moreover, when after a longer period of use, the paddingmodule becomes worn or dirty it may easily be replaced or cleaned andreturned.

According to a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention, theholding member includes a U-shaped portion having first and secondelongated portions and a curved portion connecting the first and secondelongated portions. This is advantageous because the holding member maythereby easily be fitted onto the user's hand, for instance between thethumb and the index finger, and stay there without interfering much withany operations performed by the user's hand.

According to another preferred embodiment of this aspect of theinvention, the holding member includes a C-shaped portion having arelatively long elongated portion, first and second relatively shortelongated portions and first and second curved portions. The curvedportions each connect a respective relatively short elongated portion tothe relatively long elongated portion. A device with such a holdingmember will interfere even less with the user's hand operations.However, a supplementary strap is normally also required to maintain asecure attachment of the device to the hand.

According to another preferred embodiment of this aspect of theinvention, the holding member includes an enfolded portion having firstand second elongated portions and two curved portions interconnectingthe first and second elongated portions. This shape of the holdingmember is advantageous because a secure attachment to the hand maythereby be accomplished without any straps or the like.

According to another preferred embodiment of this aspect of theinvention, the set of fastening members includes at least one protrudinglip, which is adapted to hold the padding module in the fastenedposition. An advantage attained thereby is that the design facilitates achange of padding modules. Namely, it is both easy to snap in a newmodule behind the protruding lips, and to remove an already fastenedmodule from the device by shifting it laterally or simply unsnapping it.

According to another preferred embodiment of this aspect of theinvention, the set of fastening members includes at least one groove,which is adapted to clamp the padding module into the fastened position.This design is desirable because the padding module thereby becomes verysecurely fastened to the portable device.

According to yet a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention,the holding member contains a first recess whose shape is adapted toreceive the padding module. Preferably, the padding module is also madeof an elastic material and has such form in relation to the holdingmember that the padding module, when being fitted into position againstat least one of the at least one elongated portion and the at least onecurved portion, exerts a flexing force on the portable device thatfixates the padding module is into the fastened position in the firstrecess. This is advantageous because thereby changing padding modulesbecomes easy, at the same time as the padding module is very securelyfastened to the portable device.

According to yet a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention,the padding module includes a carrier, which in turn includes the atleast one pad cushion. This is desirable, since thereby a plurality ofpad cushions may be attached, removed or changed in a joint operation.

According to another preferred embodiment of this aspect of theinvention, the padding module includes at least one protruding memberwhich extends essentially perpendicular from the carrier. The holdingmember also includes at least one second recess, which is adapted to theshape and position of the at least one protruding member, such that theat least one second recess may receive the at least one protrudingmember and thus fixate the padding module into the fastened position.This design is desirable, because it accomplishes an even more securefastening of the padding module to the portable device.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of this aspect of theinvention, the padding module comprises at least two carriersub-modules, which each includes one or more pad cushions. This isadvantageous, since it allows sub-modules with mutually differentcharacteristics, such as size and hardness, to be combined into aconfiguration that better suits a particular user's requirements.Moreover, the sub-modules may be individually replaced and/or washedwhen necessary.

According to another aspect of the invention the object is achieved by apadding module, which is adapted to be attached to a portable device forinputting control signals to a peripheral unit as described initially.The padding module is adapted to cooperate with a set of fasteningmembers on the portable device and thus be secured in a removablyfastened position on a side of the holding member that faces the user'shand when the device is attached to the hand. Moreover, the paddingmodule contains at least one pad cushion, which is adapted to fit theportable device to the user's hand. A separate padding module of thiskind is advantageous because thereby the user may select a paddingmodule having such characteristics that, when it is fastened onto theportable device, the device fits well onto the user's hand. Moreover,when after a longer period of use, the padding module becomes worn ordirty it may easily be replaced or cleaned and returned.

According to a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention, thepadding module contains a carrier, which in turn includes the at leastone pad cushion. This is desirable, since thereby a plurality of padcushions may be attached, removed or changed in a joint operation.

According to another preferred embodiment of this aspect of theinvention, the carrier is made of an elastic material and has such formin relation to the holding member that, when it is fitted into positionagainst at least one of the at least one elongated portion and the atleast one curved portion, it exerts a flexing force on the device, whichfixates it into the fastened position. This results in that the paddingmodule is very securely fastened to the portable device, at the sametime as changing padding modules is alleviated. The design is thereforedesirable.

According to another preferred embodiment of this aspect of theinvention, the carrier includes at least one protruding member (e.g.fluke- or barb shaped), which extends essentially perpendicular and isadapted to be received by at least one recess in the holding member ofthe portable device, such that the padding module may be fixated into afastened position on the device. This type of attachment accomplishes avery secure fastening of the padding module to the portable device andis thus desirable.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of this aspect of theinvention, the padding module comprises at least two carriersub-modules, which each includes a pad cushion. These sub-modules may becombined, such that a resulting padding module includes pad cushionswith mutually different characteristics (e.g. with respect to size andhardness). Thereby, a particular user's fitting requirements may bebetter met than with a single uniform padding module. Moreover, thesub-modules may be individually replaced and/or washed when necessary.Hence, the invention offers an excellent tool for customizing andtailoring general hand-worn portable devices to an optimal fit for eachuser.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is now to be explained more closely by means ofpreferred embodiments, which are disclosed as examples, and withreference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 depicts a side elevation view of a portable device having aholding member according to a first embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a padding module according to a first embodiment of theinvention,

FIG. 3 shows a padding module according to a second embodiment of theinvention,

FIG. 4 demonstrates a set of fastening members for the padding moduleaccording to a second embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 5 demonstrates a set of fastening members for the padding moduleaccording to a third embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 6 demonstrates a set of fastening members for the padding moduleaccording to a fourth embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 7 demonstrates a set of fastening members for the padding moduleaccording to a fifth embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 8 depicts a perspective view of a portable device having a holdingmember according to a second embodiment of the invention, and

FIG. 9 depicts a perspective view of a portable device having a holdingmember according to a third embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 depicts a side elevation view of a portable device 100 forinputting control signals to a peripheral unit according to anembodiment of the invention. The device 100 contains a plurality ofinput members adapted to receive such control signals. For example, afirst input member in the form of a mouse ball 181 may be used to enterpositioning commands to control a cursor on a computer screen. Secondand third input members in the form buttons 182 and 183 may be used togenerate various selection and activation commands.

Additionally, the device 100 includes a holding member designed to beattached to a hand of a user of the device so as to retain the device100 in a fixed manner on the hand, predominantly by means of a clampingforce exerted to the hand. The holding member contains a U-shapedportion, which has a first elongated portion 110 and a second elongatedportion 120. A curved portion 130 of the U-shaped portion connects thefirst and the second elongated portions 110; 120.

A padding module 200 is mounted onto a side of the U-shaped portion thatis intended to face the user's hand when the device is attached to thehand. The padding module 200 contains a carrier 140, which in turnincludes at least one pad cushion 141, 142, 143 a, 143 b and 143 crespectively that is adapted to fit the device 100 to the user's hand.For instance, the device 100 may be attached to a user's first hand suchthat a first larger pad cushion 141 contacts the outside of this hand,whereas a second larger pad cushion 142 contacts the palm. A set ofsmaller pad cushions 143 a, 143 b and 143 c then contacts one side ofthe first hand, preferably in the area between the thumb and the indexfinger. Such positioning of the device 100 enables the user toconveniently reach the mouse ball 181 as well as the buttons 182 and 183with his/her second hand, while the first hand rests comfortably in thesecond hand (such that the outside of the first hand contacts the palmof the second hand).

The padding module 200 is removably fastened to the holding member bymeans of a set of fastening members. FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment ofthe invention where fastening members in the form of a pair ofprotruding lips 150 secure the padding module 200 in a fastenedposition. However, according to other embodiments of the invention, thepadding module 200 may be fastened by alternative means, which will bediscussed below with reference to FIGS. 4-7.

FIG. 2 shows a padding module 200 according to a first embodiment of theinvention when not being fastened to the portable device 100. Thecarrier 140 here shows an essentially straight profile. The carrier 140is preferably made of a flexible material (e.g. polymer or metal), andgiven that this material is also elastic, the carrier 140 will produce aflexing force towards the holding member when it is fitted into positionbetween the elongated portions 110 and 120. According to the invention,other profile shapes are likewise feasible, such as a profile which isadapted to the general U-form of the holding member (and therefore neednot be flexible). Alternatively, the profile may have a slightlyinverted U-form (so as to accomplish an increased flexing force towardsthe holding member). Further details pertaining to these features willbe discussed below with reference to FIG. 5.

Nevertheless, the padding module 200 is adapted to be removably fastenedto a portable device 100 as described above by means of a set offastening members. The carrier 140 includes one or more pad cushions.FIG. 2 shows a carrier 140 with two relatively large pad cushions 141and 142 respectively, and three relatively small pad cushions 143 a, 143b and 143 c. Preferably, although not necessarily, all the pad cushions141, 142 143 a, 143 b; 143 c on the carrier 140 have equalcharacteristics with respect to the pad material, its hardness and thepad cover material. The pad cushions may for example be made of TD 211(from Fagerdala Industri AB, Sweden), tempur® or similar material.Either the pad cushions are covered by an elastic, comfortable andwashable fabric, or the pad cushion material itself is correspondinglyadapted to be in direct contact with human skin.

FIG. 3 shows a padding module 200 according to a second embodiment ofthe invention. Here, the module 200 includes three carrier sub-modules140 a, 140 b and 140 c respectively, which each includes at least onepad cushion 141; 143 a, 143 b, 143 c; 142. The individual sub-modules140 a, 140 b and 140 c may be interconnected or hooked together viaparticular interlocking means. Preferably, at least one of thesub-modules, is provided with one or more protruding members whichextend from the module's general edge. Any sub-modules that arepotential neighbors to this sub-module include at least onecorresponding recess which is adapted to receive the protrudingmember(s), such that the sub-modules thus may be interconnected andjoined into a combined padding module 200. Preferably, the protrudingmembers are fluke- or barb shaped, for instance as the pieces of ajig-saw puzzle. FIG. 3 shows an example where a first and a thirdsub-module 140 a and 140 c are provided with a respective jig-saw-puzzleshaped protruding member and a second sub-module 140 b has a twocorresponding recesses which are adapted to receive these members.

FIG. 4 shows the side of the elongated portion 110 of the portabledevice's 100 holding member, which is intended to face the user's handwhen the device 100 is attached to the hand, where fastening memberssecure the padding module 200 according to a second embodiment of theinvention. Here, the fastening members are constituted by a pair ofgrooves 450 which are parallel to the carrier's 140 edge and are adaptedto clamp the padding module 200 into the fastened position inside theholding member. The grooves 450 are positioned such that the carrier 140may slide pass them without the pad cushions 141 or 143 a contacting thegrooves 450. Provided that the carrier 140 is made of a sufficientlyflexible material, it may alternatively be bent and snapped intoposition behind the edges of the grooves 450 without performing asliding movement. Naturally, the grooves 450 in FIG. 4 may be combinedwith a pair of protruding lips 150 (as shown in FIG. 1) that also secureend parts of the carrier 200 to the device 100.

FIG. 5 illustrates, by means of a sectional view of the holding member'selongated portion 110, a fastening means for the padding module 200according to a third embodiment of the invention. As already mentionedabove, the carrier 140 may be made of an elastic material, i.e. materialthat regains an original form after having been deformed by means of anexternal force. Thus, an elastic carrier 140 having an original formwhich is less bent than what is given by the general U-form of theholding member, will also produce a flexing force towards the holdingmember when it is fitted into position between the elongated portions110 and 120. Generally, the stiffer the material and the less thecarrier's 140 profile coincides with the holding member's form, thestronger this force will be. FIG. 5 shows the elongated portion 110 of aholding member, which includes a first recess 550 whose shape is adaptedto receive the padding module 200, such that the carrier 140 restsagainst at least one edge of the recess 550. Preferably the carrier 140rests against all the recess edges. Moreover, the carrier 140 is made ofan elastic material and has such form in relation to U-shaped portionthat it, when being fitted into position between the first and secondelongated portions 110 and 120 respectively, exerts a flexing forceF_(t) on the device 100. This force F_(t) is at least strong enough tofixate the padding module 200 into the fastened position. Preferablyhowever, the force F_(t) is weak enough to allow the padding module 200to be easily be removed by hand.

FIG. 6 shows the side of the elongated portion 110 of the portabledevice's 100 holding member, which is intended to face the user's handwhen the device 100 is attached to the hand, where a fastening membersecure the padding module 200 according to a fourth embodiment of theinvention. The fastening member is constituted by a protruding member650 which extends essentially perpendicular from the carrier's 140general edge and lies in level with the surface that faces the user'shand. The holding member comprises a corresponding second recess 165,which is adapted to the shape and position of the protruding member 650such that the second recess 165 may receive the protruding member 650and thus fixate the padding module 200 into the fastened positionagainst the device 100. Preferably, the holding member is provided withat least one protruding member-second recess pair per elongated portion110 and 120. Of course, any number of such pairs larger than one is alsoconceivable. Moreover, according to a preferred embodiment of theinvention, the protruding member 650 is fluke- or barb shaped, forinstance like the pieces of a jig-saw puzzle.

FIG. 7 illustrates, by means of a sectional view of the holding member'selongated portion 110, a fastening means for the padding module 200according to a fifth embodiment of the invention. The padding module's200 carrier's 140 general edge here includes a protruding member 750which extends essentially perpendicular from the carrier 140. Theprotruding member 750 is also essentially perpendicular to the surfacethat faces the user's hand and extends away from this surface. Theholding member includes a corresponding second recess 175, which isadapted to the shape and position of the protruding member 750 such thatthe second recess 175 may receive the protruding member 750 and thusfixate the padding module 200 into the fastened position against thedevice 100. Preferably, the holding member is provided with at least oneprotruding member-second recess pair per elongated portion 110 and 120.Naturally, any number of such pairs larger than one is likewiseconceivable. Moreover, according to a preferred embodiment of theinvention, the protruding member 750 is fluke- or barb shaped, forinstance like the pieces of a jig-saw puzzle.

According to the invention, the fastening members 150, 450, 550, 650 and750 described above and individually illustrated in the FIGS. 1, 4, 5, 6and 7 respectively may be combined in any combination and thusaccomplish an enhanced fastening of the padding module 200 to theportable device 100. Moreover, the fastening members 150, 450, 550, 650and 750 may also be combined in part, such that for example the firstelongated portion 110 includes a first type of fastening member (say aprotruding lip 150) and second elongated portion 120 includes a secondtype of fastening member (say a pair of grooves 450). Furthermore, inaddition to the illustrated fastening members, the padding module 200may be fastened to the device 100 by means of alternative orcomplementary fasteners represented by magnet- or Velcro™ members.Alternatively, the set of fastening members may include one or moreareas on the padding module and the holding member respectively that arecovered with a self-adhesive layer, which is adapted to accomplish anon-permanent attachment of the padding module to the holding member,i.e. a gluey equivalent to Velcro™.

According to alternative embodiments of the invention (not illustrated),the carrier forms an integrated part of the holding member, such thateach pad cushion may be individually fastened directly onto the holdingmember.

FIG. 8 shows a portable device 100 having a C-shaped holding memberwhich is adapted to be attached to the back of a user's hand, such thata relatively long elongated portion 110 of the device 100 is parallelwith the back of the hand and first and second relatively shortelongated portions 810 and 820 grasp around a respective side of thehand. First and second curved portions 831 and 832 each connect arespective of the first and second relatively short elongated portions810 and 820 to the relatively long elongated portion 110, such that asmooth transition is accomplished between the elongated portions. Whenthe device 100 is attached to the user's hand like this, a button 882faces away from the back of the hand and is thereby accessible by theuser's opposite hand.

The device 100 may also include a positioning input member in the formof a touch pad 881 which, when the device 100 is attached to the hand,is positioned in proximity of the root of the index finger. A paddingmodule 200 containing a carrier 140, which in turn carries two padcushions 141 and 142 respectively, is removably fastened to the side ofthe holding member that faces towards the user's hand when the device100 is attached to the hand. According to a preferred embodiment of theinvention, a strap (not shown) between the portions 810 and 820 isincluded to achieve a more secure attachment of the device 100 to theuser's hand.

FIG. 9 depicts a perspective view of a portable device 100 having aholding member in the form of an enfolded portion which is adapted to beattached to the a user's hand, such that the holding member completelyembraces the hand. The holding member here has a first and a secondelongated portion 110 and 120. Two curved portions 931 and 932respectively interconnect the portions 110 and 120 to form a closedholding member. Preferably, the holding member is provided with a pivotmeans 950 to allow the portions 110 and 120 to be separated from eachother and thus simplify insertion of a hand there between. A lockingmechanism is also desirable to link up the portions 110 and 120 when thehand is in place.

The FIG. 9 shows a padding module 200 being attached on the inside ofthe elongated portion 120. The illustrated padding module 200 containsone pad cushion 142, which is attached to the holding member via acarrier 140. However, any larger number of pad cushions is conceivable,as well, as a variation of their particular locations on the inside ofthe holding member. The device 100 may be provided with various kinds ofinput members for generating control signals to a peripheral unit. Forinstance, it may include a micro joystick 981 and a set of buttons 982,983 and 983.

The term “comprises/comprising” when used in this specification is takento specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps orcomponents. However, the term does not preclude the presence or additionof one or more additional features, integers, steps or components orgroups thereof.

The invention is not restricted to the described embodiments in thefigures, but may be varied freely within the scope of the claims.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A portable device for inputting control signals toa peripheral unit comprising: a holding member designed to be attachedto a hand of a user of the device so as to retain the device in apredetermined manner on the hand, wherein the holding member comprisesat least one curved portion and at least one elongated portion connectedto the at least one curved portion such that the portions are adapted togrip a part of the user's hand, wherein a side of the holding memberthat faces the user's hand when the device is attached to the handcomprises a padding module, the padding module comprising at least onepad cushion adapted to fit the device to the user's hand, wherein thepadding module is removably fastened to the holding member, and thedevice comprises a set of fastening members for securing the paddingmodule in a fastened position.
 22. A portable device according to claim1, wherein the holding member comprises a U-shaped portion having firstand second elongated portions and a curved portion connecting the firstand second elongated portions.
 23. A portable device according to claim1, wherein the holding member comprises a C-shaped portion having arelatively long elongated portion, first and second relatively shortelongated portions and first and second curved portions eachrespectively connecting the first and second relatively short elongatedportions to the relatively long elongated portion.
 24. A portable deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the holding member comprises an enfoldedportion having first and second elongated portions and two curvedportions interconnecting the first and second elongated portions.
 25. Aportable device according to claim 1, wherein the set of fasteningmembers comprises at least one protruding lip adapted to hold thepadding module in the fastened position.
 26. A portable device accordingto claim 1, wherein the set of fastening members comprises at least onegroove adapted to clamp the padding module into the fastened position.27. A portable device according to claim 1, wherein the holding membercomprises a first recess whose shape is adapted to receive the paddingmodule.
 28. A portable device according to claim 1, wherein the paddingmodule comprises a carrier, which in turn includes the at least one padcushion.
 29. A portable device according to claim 28, wherein thecarrier is made of an elastic material and has such form in relation tothe holding member that the padding module when being fitted intoposition against at least one of the at least one elongated portion andthe at least one curved portion exerts a flexing force (F_(t)) on thedevice, said force (F_(t)) fixating the padding module into the fastenedposition in the first recess.
 30. A portable device according to claim1, wherein the padding module comprises at least one protruding memberextending essentially perpendicular from the carrier, and the holdingmember comprises at least one second recess adapted to the shape andposition of the at least one protruding member such that the at leastone second recess may receive the at least one protruding member andthus fixate the padding module into the fastened position.
 31. Aportable device according to claim 30, wherein the at least oneprotruding member is fluke- or barb shaped.
 32. A portable deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the padding module comprises at least twocarrier sub-modules, which each include one or more pad cushions.
 33. Aportable device according to claim 1, wherein the set of fasteningmembers includes hook and loop fasteners adapted to secure the paddingmodule in a fastened position.
 34. A padding module adapted to beattached to a portable device for inputting control signals to aperipheral unit, wherein the device comprises at least one curvedportion and at least one elongated portion connected to the at least onecurved portion such that the portions are adapted to grip a part of theuser's hand, wherein the padding module is adapted to cooperate with aset of fastening members on the portable device thus securing thepadding module in a removably fastened position on a side of the holdingmember that faces the user's hand when the device is attached to thehand, and wherein the padding module includes at least one pad cushionadapted to fit the device to the user's hand.
 35. A padding moduleaccording to claim 34, further comprising a carrier, which in turnincludes the at least one pad cushion.
 36. A padding module according toclaim 35, wherein the carrier is made of an elastic material and hassuch form in relation to the holding member that it when being fittedinto position against at least one of the at least one elongated portionand the at least one curved portion exerts a flexing force (F_(t)) onthe device, said force (F_(t)) fixating the padding module into thefastened position.
 37. A padding module according to claim 35, whereinthe carrier comprises at least one protruding member which extendsessentially 20 perpendicular and is adapted to be received by at leastone recess in the holding member of the portable device and thus fixatethe padding module into the fastened position on the device.
 38. Apadding module according to claim 37, wherein the at least oneprotruding member is fluke- or barb shaped.
 39. A padding moduleaccording to claim 35, wherein the carrier comprises at least twocarrier sub-modules, which each includes at least one pad cushion.
 40. Apadding module according to claims 34, wherein the padding module isadapted to cooperate with hook and loop fasteners positioned on theportable device so as to secure the padding module in a fastenedposition on the portable device.